Cycle MadagascarTM takes initiative to form staff members about the First Aid Training for three full days. The goal is to provide a comfortable and suitable trip to visitors. The quality of your tour managers, guides and ever your mechanic is a key of an unforgettable experience in Madagascar.

An approach, design learning, in ways that is compatible with how we catch the essential. The pareto principle 80/20 is a rule frequently adopted for a First Aid teaching: 80 % practise and 20 % theory. Different topic we learn during the three full days. We finish the session by a personal practice test. All 22 participants succeed to the final test. We get official qualification to be a First-Aider. ‘Croix Rouge Malagasy’ deliver us the certificate.

Last 25, 26, 27 January, the Cycle MadagascarTM team have got a First Aid training during three full days with Malagasy Red Cross (MRC), well-known as ‘Croix Rouge Malagasy’ or CRM in Madagascar as french-speacking country. It took place in the office of CRM Vakinankaratra localized in the southern periphery of Antsirabe town along the national road number 7 leads to Ambositra.

About ‘Croix Rouge Malagasy’ or CRM

CRM is a state partnership works for common interest and helps government for humanity. CRM has its own chart: The International Council, the International Federation, and the National Society. CRM works regardless of the government political affairs.

National Society leads ‘Croix Rouge Malagasy’ though the general assembly and the national management. CRM has the official branch in all 22 regions of Madagascar, 119 districts and although in all 1015 towns. Thanks to the international federation, CRM interact in some cases of natural disasters, war, and jail.

Actually, CRM has 13 000 volunteers, 70 officers and 35 000 members according to Rasitefanoelina Jacquy, coordinator of CRM Vakinankaratra.

The seven principles govern the work of all ‘Croix Rouge’ employees and volunteers around the world are: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Work and Universality.

CRM Vakinankaratra is one of the 22 regional branches of the ‘Croix Rouge Malagasy’.
Vakinankaratra region is one of the twenty-two regions of Madagascar. It is located in the province of Antananarivo, in the center of the island. The region of Vakinankaratra is composed of six districts and eighty-eight towns including Antsirabe which is its capital.

The officers and responsible in Antsirabe as anywhere else are working together with the volunteers and can teach the First Aid to different entities like company, organization or associations of their work area. CRM Vakinankaratra has actually Razanadrasoa Jeannette as regional president. Rasitefanoelina Jacquy is the coordinator. He organizes and fixes up the training session.

CRM provide a full package of training materials and technical support during these three days. The only one who delivers high quality training experiences of First Aid in Madagascar. CRM give courses and official qualifications according to the decision of the head office to maintain the credibility of ‘Croix Rouge Malagasy’ and its network of training centers across the Island.

Items of First Aid training for three full days

Bleeding

Bleeding is the most dangerous stage that we have to check carefully at the first time. It can be external, internal or internalized. Protect against contagious diseases put on gloves. Stop bleeding locally so use manual compress. If it does not work, the best is to stop from a distance by using wither or ‘garrot’

Breathing

Confirm the breath of the victim. There may be a foreign body blocks the airway. The ‘Manoeurvres de Heimlich’ is the convenient action of a First-Aider. Clap five times his back, and then follow by five abdominal compressing. And continue the movement till the doctor arrives.

Unconscious but breathing

Ask a simple question to test his self-consciousness. All first-Aiders know this code. And then check his breath. If a person is unconscious but breathing and has no other life-threatening conditions, he should be placed in the recovery position. This is the ‘Lateral Safety Position’ or ‘Position Latérale de Sécurité’ PLS. The goal is to maintain an open airway. It will keep his airway clear and open. It also ensures that any vomit or fluid won’t cause him to choke.

Laydown the person on his back, kneel on the floor at his side

place the arm nearest you at a right angle to his body with his hand upwards, towards the head

tuck him other hand under the side of his head, so that the back of his hand is touching his cheek

bend the knee farthest from you to a right angle

Carefully roll the person onto his side by pulling on the bent knee. Always in the left side for a pregnant person

the top arm should be supporting the head and the bottom arm will stop you rolling him too far

open his airway by gently tilting his head back and lifting his chin, and check that nothing is blocking his airway

stay with the person and monitor his condition until help arrives

Unconscious and no breathing

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is a lifesaving technique useful in many emergencies, in which someone’s breathing or heartbeat has stopped. Practise 100 thoraxes compressing in each minutes for adult. Make 5 mouth-to-mouth resuscitations, then 30 thoraxes compressing with one hand followed by 2 mouth-to-mouth for a child between 1 to 10 years old. But for a baby less than one year, go out with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation through his mouth and his nose at the same time.

Injury

Injury recovery method is ‘Scarf’. Cover the injured part to protect against contagious microbe. Put it on accordingly the place of injury. For example, if the injury is on forehead, the knot is behind. When the injury is not complicate, you wash with a compress and soap with water. First-Aider uses the washing method of star which starts from the center throughout outside.

Broken bone

Immobilize the extremities joints from the broken part. You can use wood, piece of cardboard, or strong thing can support and fixed up and use as bandaging according the circumstance. Fill in with soft material the lock part between. Make sur that it cannot move. This method is called ‘immobilization’. Take carefully the victim. Avoid any movement till you finish the immobilization. Stay with the person until the doctor arrives

Malaise

When the person fells suddenly tired, and being in a sweat. Allow the person to stay on a safe place that he can feel better. Ask a simple question what really happen to him: is it a disease, should he take medicament, does he take meal and so… Give him a sweet tee or sweet food till the helpers you’ve asked will arrive.

Burn

Get colder the burn by putting on cold water during 15 minutes. Cover the burn to protect against contagious microbe. The recovery method is ‘Scarf’. Stay with the person till the doctor arrives